Clark makes campaign stop in Indiana

GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- Wesley Clark isn't a man of large stature, but his supporters laud his big ideas for America's future.\nThe Democratic presidential hopeful spoke before a packed gymnasium at DePauw University Tuesday night in Greencastle, Ind.\nClark discussed issues ranging from health care and education, to tax relief and home security.\nHe began firmly, taking the near 2,600 in attendance on a historical roller coaster beginning with the end of the Cold War, touching on recent Republican leadership blunders and peaking with the economic prosperity under past Democratic leadership.\n"The American economy was driving the world and was the pinnacle of American power, but after 9/11 things seemed so different," Clark said. "Since that time we've been in a job-loss economy and nobody knows that better than the people of Indiana who have lost nearly 88,000 jobs."\nClark, a retired army general, turned his attention toward the necessity of a future plan with regard to national security.\n"We need to build a strategy and we don't have one right now," Clark said. "We need to start building on the real American principles of freedom, democracy and human rights. That's our contribution to humanity."\nClark criticized the Bush administration for demanding foreign players to "either be with us or against us."\n"How dare someone say your either with us or against us," Clark said. "Americans understand that we're not going to be safer building walls around this country. We've got to build bridges to help others see it our way."\nClark said he would use force only as a last resort concerning matters of conflict.\n"We can shape the world; we can then go forward in confidence," Clark said. "We can meet the challenges waiting for us, but we have to have a new strategy for dealing with the world abroad."\nAfter Clark concluded his speech, DePauw University student leaders were given the opportunity to ask the general some questions.\nBrandon Sokol, senior and editor of the DePauw newspaper, The DePauw, asked the general about current college students and their influence on the election.\n"When you have a democracy, it's important to encourage your generation to show it cares," Clark said. "If you love your country, then you have to fight for it and use your mind. I want you to vote."\nIndiana State University graduate student Tony Waterson traveled from Terre Haute to hear Clark speak, but said he was uncertain about the general's message.\n"The speech addressed a lot of problems, but not a lot of solutions," Waterson said. "He wants to send a lot of money and cut a lot of taxes which really doesn't equal out."\nCharles Southerland, a resident of Greencastle, said he was especially interested in Clark's remarks concerning social security.\n"As a senior citizen, I was really happy to hear him supporting the financial future for many people my age," Southerland said. "I look forward to voting for him and saying I was in the front row to see the president of the United States."\nA poll conducted by John Zogby, president and CEO of Zogby International, a respected political survey research organization, assessed Clark's potential for candidacy.\nAccording to the poll, 84.1 percent of likely Democratic primary voters say it is not too late for a new entrant to win their support; 73.5 percent rate military and national security experience as "very" or "somewhat" important for a presidential candidate.\nClark comes in first in a match-up versus six key Democratic candidates (Howard Dean, John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, Richard Gephardt, John Edwards and Bob Graham), but the most eye-popping statistic has Clark winning 49.4 percent to 40.2 percent in a run-off versus President George Bush. \nWhile some Republicans worry that Clark could pose problems for Bush, a statement issued by the Republican National Committee, said the retired general's candidacy is a minor distraction to the Republicans, but encourages more Democrat-versus-Democrat disagreement on U.S.-Iraq policy, taxes, trade and other issues.\nClark said he is in favor of middle-class tax cuts and a strong national defense. He supports abortion rights and affirmative action but has restricted his comments on such hot-button issues as gays in the military and gun control.\nBut Clark didn't hold back when talking about the necessity for a vision in the future. He called the 20th century "an American century" stemming from the forward vision of 20th century American leaders.\n"We are in a new century and we need to add vision," Clark said. "With generosity, courage and the willingness to put our hand forward we can make the 21st century another American century, and I believe it is our destiny to do so."\n-Contact senior writer Mitch Blacher at mblacher@indiana.edu.